Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Legazpi and Manila

For one person, living is cheaper in Legazpi: $709 a month against $945 in Manila, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Legazpi, Philippines
Manila, Philippines
Legazpi
🇵🇭 Philippines
$709
/mo nomad
Manila
🇵🇭 Philippines
$945
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Legazpi and in Manila

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Legazpi and in Manila actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $709 per month in Legazpi vs $945 in Manila, rent included.

  • Legazpi $709
  • Manila $945

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Legazpi vs $1,572 in Manila, rent included.

  • Legazpi $1,094
  • Manila $1,572

A family of three spends $1,480 per month in Legazpi vs $2,199 in Manila, rent included.

  • Legazpi $1,480
  • Manila $2,199

Legazpi is about 25% cheaper than Manila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Legazpi and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Legazpi 48% lower, Manila 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86 ₱245
$5.34 ₱339
-27.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.72 ₱1,060
$26.46 ₱1,677
-36.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.83 ₱179
$3.93 ₱249
-27.99%
Cappuccino
$2.19 ₱139
$2.53 ₱160
-13.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱40.47
$1.35 ₱85.6
-52.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱21.26
$0.82 ₱51.8
-58.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.19 ₱75.2
$1.14 ₱72.3
4.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ₱135
$2.38 ₱151
-10.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₱100.0
$1.91 ₱121
-17.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 ₱69.0
$1.44 ₱91.3
-24.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₱60.3
$0.94 ₱59.8
1.06%
Eggs
$2.60 ₱165
$2.30 ₱146
13.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.53 ₱351
$7.41 ₱470
-25.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 ₱259
$4.61 ₱292
-11.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.82 ₱432
$6.65 ₱421
2.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ₱145
$3.29 ₱209
-30.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 ₱98.9
$1.80 ₱114
-13.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ₱153
$3.00 ₱190
-19.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ₱74.0
$1.76 ₱111
-33.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 ₱129
$2.22 ₱141
-8.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 ₱144
$2.66 ₱169
-14.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ₱68.7
$2.14 ₱136
-49.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.75
$0.53 ₱33.85
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 ₱188
$3.06 ₱194
-3.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₱468
$9.57 ₱606
-22.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₱65.7
$1.30 ₱82.6
-20.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 ₱123
$1.99 ₱126
-2.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₱11.23
$0.40 ₱25.62
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.82 ₱749
$12.75 ₱808
-7.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.31
$0.72 ₱45.60
4.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.59
$0.23 ₱14.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 ₱116
$1.84 ₱117
-0.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₱73.4
$1.27 ₱80.4
-8.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K ₱1.5M
$20.7K ₱1.3M
15.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K ₱1.1M
$18.7K ₱1.2M
-3.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 ₱7,517
$120 ₱7,580
-0.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.23 ₱965
$15.69 ₱995
-2.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.18 ₱1,913
$23.60 ₱1,496
27.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.32 ₱1,985
$42.57 ₱2,698
-26.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.23 ₱331
$5.65 ₱358
-7.43%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 ₱331
$6.50 ₱412
-19.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,160
$599 ₱38.0K
-78.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,669 ₱486.1K
$8,818 ₱558.9K
-13.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.40 ₱2,054
$56.7 ₱3,592
-42.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.79 ₱1,191
$27.40 ₱1,737
-31.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 ₱6,054
$76.4 ₱4,839
25.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.5 ₱3,453
$55.5 ₱3,518
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$193 ₱12.2K
$526 ₱33.4K
-63.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₱8,767
$297 ₱18.8K
-53.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$515 ₱32.6K
$1,887 ₱119.6K
-72.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$316 ₱20.0K
$816 ₱51.7K
-61.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,906 ₱184.2K
$3,968 ₱251.5K
-26.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,050 ₱66.5K
$2,366 ₱150.0K
-55.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Legazpi
Manila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$264 ₱16.7K
$466 ₱29.5K
-43.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
7.43
36.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Legazpi: October 26, 2026

Last update for Manila: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Legazpi
$180
Manila
$216 20.3% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Legazpi
$164
Manila
$159 3.1% $5.1
Accommodation & Living
Legazpi
$138
Manila
$297 115% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Legazpi
$91
Manila
$97 7.3% $6.6
Eating Out
Legazpi
$80
Manila
$104 30.6% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Legazpi
$42
Manila
$56 33% $14
Getting Around
Legazpi
$14
Manila
$16 12.5% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Legazpi versus $526 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Manila. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Legazpi versus $26 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $216 – making Legazpi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Legazpi
🇵🇭 Manila
🕒 Local time
10:46 10:46 AM
10:46 10:46 AM
Same time as Legazpi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
209,533
1,780,148 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.38 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.04 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Legazpi Manila 340 km
From you
  • Legazpi
  • Manila

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Legazpi vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Legazpi and in Manila compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $709 in Legazpi, $945 in Manila – Legazpi comes out roughly 25% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Legazpi compared to Manila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,063 per month in Legazpi and $1,418 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Legazpi and Manila?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $193 there versus $526 in Manila.
Which city is more expensive overall: Legazpi or Manila?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $709 in Legazpi and $945 in Manila. That makes Legazpi about 25% cheaper.
How do commuting costs compare in Legazpi and in Manila?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $1,200 go in Legazpi compared to Manila?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $709 in Legazpi and $945 in Manila, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Legazpi or Manila?
Families tend to lean toward Legazpi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Legazpi or Manila safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Legazpi and Manila?
If budget matters most, go with Legazpi. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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